Five to face charges in Ksh3.9B VAT fraud

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Kenya has approved charges against five individuals and 12 companies in connection with an alleged KSh3.9 billion VAT fraud scheme. The operation, conducted jointly with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), uncovered a network of companies, often referred to as "missing traders," that allegedly generated fictitious transactions and electronic tax invoices to facilitate unlawful tax claims.

These companies allegedly created invoices for non-existent purchases, enabling businesses to claim VAT refunds or reduce their tax liabilities. The ODPP has registered charges in 36 cases involving transactions worth approximately KSh3.22 billion, with an alleged VAT loss of KSh518 million. Six cases are being prioritized for immediate prosecution, with an alleged VAT implication of KSh17 million.

The remaining files will be registered in court at a later date. The ODPP has committed to tackling complex economic and financial crimes to safeguard public revenue.

Brief written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.